1

BLW YouGov spec This study is being conducted by John Carey, Gretchen Helmke, Brendan Nyhan, and Susan Stokes, who are professors at Dartmouth College (Carey and Nyhan), the University of Rochester (Helmke), and Yale University (Stokes). We ask for your attention for a few minutes and we thank you for your attention and your responses. Your participation is voluntary and you may decline the survey or withdraw at any time. No information that identifies you will be collected or retained by the researchers. However, any online interaction carries some risk of being accessed. Do you consent to participate in the survey?

o Yes

o No [timing]

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How old are you?

o Under 18

o 18 - 24

o 25 - 34

o 35 - 44

o 45 - 54

o 55 - 64

o 65 - 74

o 75 - 84

o 85 or older [timing]

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2

Now we would like to ask you about your views on politics. On the next several screens you will see questions about the executive (president), legislature (Congress), and judiciary (courts), as well as about the news media and the political actions of individual citizens. The questions will ask you to evaluate the importance of certain principles or values to democracy in general, and how well those principles or values are being upheld in practice in the United States.

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3

How important are these characteristics for democratic government? [randomly display 9 of 27]

<b>Not relevant</b> This has no impact on democracy

<b>Beneficial</b> This enhances

democracy, but is not required for

democracy

<b>Important</b>If this is absent, democracy is compromised

<b>Essential</b>A country cannot be

considered democratic without

this

Government officials are

legally sanctioned for

misconduct o o o o

Government officials do not

use public office for

private gain o o o o

Government agencies are not used to

monitor, attack, or punish political

opponents

o o o o

All adult citizens enjoy the same legal

and political rights

o o o o Government

does not interfere with journalists or

news organizations

o o o o

Government effectively prevents

private actors from engaging in politically-motivated violence or intimidation

o o o o

4

Government protects

individuals’ right to engage

in unpopular speech or expression

o o o o

Political competition

occurs without criticism of opponents’ loyalty or patriotism

o o o o

Elections are free from foreign

influence o o o o

Parties and candidates are not barred due to their political

beliefs and ideologies

o o o o

All adult citizens have

equal opportunity to

vote o o o o

All votes have equal impact on election outcomes

o o o o Elections are conducted,

ballots counted, and

winners determined

without pervasive fraud or manipulation

o o o o

Executive authority

cannot be expanded

o o o o

5

beyond constitutional

limits

The legislature is able to

effectively limit executive

power o o o o

The judiciary is able to

effectively limit executive

power o o o o

The elected branches

respect judicial independence

o o o o Voter

participation in elections is

generally high o o o o

Information about the sources of campaign funding is

available to the public

o o o o

Public policy is not determined

by large campaign

contributions o o o o

Citizens can make their

opinions heard in open debate about policies that are under consideration

o o o o

The geographic boundaries of

electoral districts do not systematically

o o o o

6

advantage any particular

political party

Even when there are

disagreements about ideology

or policy, political leaders generally share

a common understanding

of relevant facts

o o o o

Elected officials seek

compromise with political opponents

o o o o Citizens have

access to information

about candidates that

is relevant to how they would

govern

o o o o

Government protects

individuals’ right to engage

in peaceful protest

o o o o

Law enforcement investigations

of public officials or their associates are

free from political

influence or interference

o o o o

[timing]

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7

How well do the following statements describe the United States as of today? [Carry forward 9 displayed choices from "How important are these characteristics for democratic government?"]

The U.S. does not meet this standard

The U.S. partly meets this standard

The U.S. mostly meets this standard

The U.S. fully meets this standard

Not sure

Government officials are

legally sanctioned for

misconduct o o o o o

Government officials do not

use public office for

private gain o o o o o

Government agencies are not used to

monitor, attack, or

punish political opponents

o o o o o

All adult citizens enjoy the same legal

and political rights

o o o o o Government

does not interfere with journalists or

news organizations

o o o o o

Government effectively prevents

private actors from engaging in politically-

motivated violence or intimidation

o o o o o

8

Government protects

individuals’ right to

engage in unpopular speech or expression

o o o o o

Political competition

occurs without criticism of opponents’ loyalty or patriotism

o o o o o

Elections are free from foreign

influence o o o o o

Parties and candidates are not barred due

to their political beliefs and ideologies

o o o o o

All adult citizens have

equal opportunity to

vote o o o o o

All votes have equal impact on election outcomes

o o o o o Elections are conducted,

ballots counted, and

winners determined

without pervasive fraud or

manipulation

o o o o o

9

Executive authority

cannot be expanded

beyond constitutional

limits

o o o o o

The legislature is able to

effectively limit executive

power o o o o o

The judiciary is able to

effectively limit executive

power o o o o o

The elected branches respect judicial

independence o o o o o

Voter participation in

elections is generally high

o o o o o Information about the sources of campaign funding is

available to the public

o o o o o

Public policy is not

determined by large

campaign contributions

o o o o o

Citizens can make their

opinions heard in open

debate about policies that are under

o o o o o

10

consideration

The geographic

boundaries of electoral

districts do not systematically advantage any

particular political party

o o o o o

Even when there are

disagreements about ideology

or policy, political leaders

generally share a common

understanding of relevant

facts

o o o o o

Elected officials seek compromise with political opponents

o o o o o Citizens have

access to information

about candidates

that is relevant to how they

would govern

o o o o o

Government protects

individuals’ right to

engage in peaceful protest

o o o o o

Law enforcement investigations o o o o o

11

of public officials or

their associates are

free from political

influence or interference

[timing]

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On a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 is least democratic and 100 is most democratic, how would you rate the political system of the United States as of today?

United States today

[page break] How important is it for you to live in a country that is governed democratically? On this scale where 1 means it is “not at all important” and 10 means “absolutely important,” what position would you choose? Not at Absolutely all important important

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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12

In what state do you currently reside?

o Alabama

o Alaska

o Arizona

o Arkansas

o California

o Colorado

o Connecticut

o Delaware

o District of Columbia

o Florida

o Georgia

o Hawaii

o Idaho

o Illinois

o Indiana

o Iowa

o Kansas

o Kentucky

o Louisiana

o Maine

o Maryland

13

o Massachusetts

o Michigan

o Minnesota

o Mississippi

o Missouri

o Montana

o Nebraska

o Nevada

o New Hampshire

o New Jersey

o New Mexico

o New York

o North Carolina

o North Dakota

o Ohio

o Oklahoma

o Oregon

o Pennsylvania

o Rhode Island

o South Carolina

o South Dakota

14

o Tennessee

o Texas

o Utah

o Vermont

o Virginia

o Washington

o West Virginia

o Wisconsin

o Wyoming

o Puerto Rico

o I do not reside in the United States

What is your gender?

o Male

o Female

o Other

15

When it comes to politics, would you describe yourself as liberal, conservative, or neither liberal nor conservative?

o Very conservative

o Somewhat conservative

o Slightly conservative

o Moderate; middle of the road

o Slightly liberal

o Somewhat liberal

o Very liberal

Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something else?

o Republican

o Democrat

o Independent

o Something else

[timing]

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16

Display This Question:

If Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent,... Democrat Is Selected

Would you call yourself a strong Democrat or a not very strong Democrat?

o Strong Democrat

o Not very strong Democrat

Display This Question:

If Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent,... Republican Is Selected

Would you call yourself a strong Republican or not a very strong Republican?

o Strong Republican

o Not very strong Republican

Display This Question:

If Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent,... Independent Is Selected

Or Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent,... Something else Is Selected

Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party?

o Closer to the Republican Party

o Closer to the Democratic Party

o Neither

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What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

o Did not graduate from high school

o High school diploma or the equivalent (GED)

o Some college

o Associate's degree

o Bachelor's degree

o Master's degree

o Professional or doctorate degree

Please check one or more categories below to indicate what race(s) you consider yourself to be.

▢ White

▢ Black or African American

▢ American Indian or Alaska Native

▢ Asian/Pacific Islander

▢ Multi-racial

▢ Other

Are you of Spanish or Hispanic origin or descent?

o Yes

o No

18

Generally, how interested are you in politics?

o Extremely interested

o Very interested

o Somewhat interested

o Not very interested

o Not at all interested

[timing]

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Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President?

o Strongly approve

o Somewhat approve

o Somewhat disapprove

o Strongly disapprove

[timing]

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19

The next set of questions helps us learn what types of information are commonly known to the public. Please answer these questions on your own without asking anyone or looking up the answers. Many people don’t know the answers to these questions, but we’d be grateful if you would please answer every question even if you’re not sure what the right answer is. It is important to us that you do NOT use outside sources like the Internet to search for the correct answer. Will you answer the following questions without help from outside sources?

o Yes

o No

[timing]

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For how many years is a United States Senator elected - that is, how many years are there in one full term of office for a U.S. Senator?

o Two years

o Four years

o Six years

o Eight years

o None of these

o Don't know

20

How many times can an individual be elected President of the United States under current laws?

o Once

o Twice

o Four times

o Unlimited number of terms

o Don't know

How many U.S. Senators are there from each state?

o One

o Two

o Four

o Depends on which state

o Don't know

Who is currently the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

o Richard Branson

o Nick Clegg

o David Cameron

o Theresa May

o Margaret Thatcher

o Don't know

21

For how many years is a member of the United States House of Representatives elected - that is, how many years are there in one full term of office for a U.S. House member?

o Two years

o Four years

o Six years

o Eight years

o For life

o Don't know

[timing]

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It is essential for the validity of this study that we know whether participants looked up any information online during the study. Did you make an effort to look up information during the study? Please be honest; you will still be paid and you will not be penalized in any way if you did.

o Yes, I looked up information

o No, I did not look up information

[timing]

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22

Do you have any comments on the survey? Please let us know about any problems you had or aspects of the survey that were confusing. [textbox]

[timing]

Page Break Thank you for answering these questions. This research is not intended to support or oppose any political candidate or office. The research has no affiliation with any political candidate or campaign and has received no financial support from any political candidate or campaign. Should you have any questions about this study, please contact Prof. Brendan Nyhan at brendan.j.nyhan@dartmouth.edu.

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